- Here We Build - The end of an era

[Vespasian92]

Harden leads Rockets to win
After acquiring Dwight Howard in the offseason, the Rockets have taken their time building chemistry this season. The Rockets sit at .500 and are tied for a somewhat disappointing 8th place in the Western Conference. But as they headed to Sacramento for a road game with the Kings, they displayed the potential that their superstar duo have. James Harden's well-rounded performance was complimented by the production from Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons as they came away with the 11-point win. For the Kings, their starting frontcourt of Cousins and Patterson struggled to carry the load by themselves as the team didn't receive much help from their other players.
Rockets: 100
Kings: 89

Houston Rockets Top Performers
James Harden: 23 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 8/18 FG - 3/4 3PT FG
Dwight Howard: 17 PTS - 8 REB - 6/14 FG - 5/11 FT
Chandler Parsons: 15 PTS - 10 REB - 4/11 FG
Jeremy Lin: 11 PTS - 7 AST - 3/9 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 24 PTS - 9 REB - 7/17 FG - 10/13 FT
Patrick Patterson: 12 PTS - 9 REB - 5/11 FG
Marcus Thornton: 11 PTS - 5/10 FG - 16 MIN
Isaiah Thomas: 10 PTS - 1 AST - 3/6 FG

McLemore, bench gives Kings strong win
Heading to Charlotte, the Sacramento Kings were optimistic that they could gain a road win against the Bobcats. Posting a suprisingly strong .500 record, Charlotte seems to be finally making strides in the right direction. Yet their improvements failed to show on Tuesday. The Kings came in and embarrassed them in their own building.

Rookie Ben McLemore has responded well since being inserted into the starting lineup for the Kings. He connected on all 8 of his shots, and dropped 6 of them in the first quarter. McLemore's 18 first-half points led Sacramento to the 17-point margin at halftime. At one point the Kings pushed their lead to 24 in the 3rd quarter. The reserves played for the majority of the 2nd half, led by Quincy Acy and Isaiah Thomas. Acy posted a career-best 16 points in a strong performance off the bench. Kemba Walker's 24 and 8 assists led the Bobcats' rallying efforts that narrowed the final margin to 13.


Kings F Quincy Acy's usual energy made an impact in extended minutes

Kings: 107
Bobcats: 94

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Ben McLemore: 20 PTS - 8/8 FG - 3/3 FT
Quincy Acy: 16 PTS (Career-High) - 5 REB - 4 AST - 2 BLK - 4/10 FG - 7/9 FT - 23 MIN
Demarcus Cousins: 14 PTS - 11 REB - 4/7 FG - 6/6 FT
Isaiah Thomas: 13 PTS - 6 REB - 11 AST - 5/19 FG

Charlotte Bobcats Top Performers
Kemba Walker: 24 PTS - 8 AST - 8/17 FG
Cody Zeller: 12 PTS - 11 REB - 4/9 FG
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: 12 PTS - 9 REB - 4 AST - 4/11 FG
Gerald Henderson: 12 PTS - 6/18 FG

Kings collapse in highlight factory
Despite winning the first game of their 2-game season series with the Hawks, the Kings were undoubtedly the underdogs in Atlanta. They did manage to hang around with the Hawks in the first half, only trailing by 2. But, as young teams are usually prone, lapses in effort and focus set in for the Kings. Their numbers after the break were miserable, shooting below 35% and 10 of their 13 turnovers coming in the second half in which Atlanta outscored them by 14. Jeff Teague caught fire for the Hawks and scored 31 for the game as they secured the home win over Sacramento.
Hawks: 108
Kings: 92

Atlanta Hawks Top Performers
Jeff Teague: 31 PTS - 7 AST - 7/20 FG
Paul Millsap: 16 PTS - 11 REB 6/18 FG
Kyle Korver: 16 PTS - 4 REB - 6/13 FG - 3/5 3PT FG
Al Horford: 5 PTS - 8 REB - 2/8 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Isaiah Thomas: 19 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 6/18 FG
Demarcus Cousins: 14 PTS - 8 REB - 6/11
Travis Outlaw: 14 PTS - 7 REB - 6/7 FG
Greivis Vasquez: 9 PTS - 9 AST - 4 STL - 2/13 FG - 5 TO

Kings hang tough, but fall to champs
Facing off against the winners of back-to-back titles, the points Coach Malone had to emphasize to his young Kings team were to execute their own game and not be fazed by the star power or media buzz around the Heat. His words must have had a positive impact as Sacramento came out focused. They even took a 6-point lead during the first quarter after a Travis Outlaw triple. Sacramento hung around with the Heat up into the third quarter before the favorites restored order. The King of South Beach wasn't going to tolerate any other Kings on his court tonight as Lebron took over about halfway through the third quarter. He had 7 boards and assists to go with his 26 points as the Heat never looked back. Chris Bosh chipped in with a double-double for Miami in their 11-point win.
Heat: 100
Kings: 89

Miami Heat Top Performers
Lebron James: 26 PTS - 7 REB - 7 AST - 10/18 FG - 1/7 3PT FG
Chris Bosh: 19 PTS - 11 REB - 8/12 FG
Dwayne Wade: 14 PTS - 6 AST - 6/13 FG
Shane Battier: 11 PTS - 3 AST - 2/7 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Greivis Vasquez: 18 PTS - 5 REB - 6 AST - 7/15 FG - 6 TO
Quincy Acy: 14 PTS - 4 REB - 6/7 FG - 21 MIN
Isaiah Thomas: 14 PTS - 3 AST - 5/10 FG
Demarcus Cousins: 12 PTS - 14 REB - 6/11 FG

NBA Notes:
Nets win 8th straight, now 18-8 overall.
Knicks win 7th straight, now 15-10 overall.
Heat win 7th straight, now 22-4 overall.
Celtics lose 6th straight, now 16-11 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:
Nuggets F J.J. Hickson out 6-8 weeks with Broken Ankle.
Spurs F Tim Duncan out 6-8 weeks with Broken Back.

NBA Transactions:
Jazz extend F Marvin Williams with 3yr/$6.46M deal.

Win-now Knicks add veteran size
Working on a lengthy win-streak, the optimistic Knicks have traded for a veteran piece to help them make a deep run.

Golden State Warriors trade: Jermaine O'Neal
New York Knicks trade: Cole Aldrich, Pablo Prigioni

The Warriors have a healthy Andrew Bogut as well as promising young bigman Festuz Ezeli, so losing O'Neal isn't a huge loss. Prigioni can help Toney Douglas take pressure off of Steph Curry for the playoff-contending Dubs. The Knicks needed a true center behind Tyson Chandler after trying combinations including Kenyon Martin and Amare Stoudemire at the 5.

[john26]

tough week going 1-3 hopefully you'll have some better luck next week

[Vespasian92]

Cousins pulls down 17, but Kings can't close out Magic
Taking the short trip from Miami to Orlando, the Kings went into the second game of a Florida back-to-back with higher hopes than they had against the Heat. The Magic have posted an 8-18 record, similarly disappointing to the Kings' mark of 9-16. The Kings played well for the majority of the game and led by 7 after three quarters. But, as has been a poor trend recently, Sacramento couldn't close out the game. Orlando rallied in the final period to outscore the Kings by 10 led by Jameer Nelson. The veteran guard scored a career-best 35 points to go with 8 assists for the Magic. Thanks to his efforts Orlando found themselves up by three during the last possession, and an excellent challenge by Maurice Harkless on Ben McLemore's 3pt attempts preserved the regulation win.
Magic: 103
Kings: 100

Orlando Magic Top Performers
Jameer Nelson: 35 PTS (Career-High) - 8 AST - 12/22 FG - 6/10 3PT FG
Aaron Afflalo: 19 PTS - 5 REB - 6/20 FG
Maurice Harkless: 12 PTS - 3 REB - 3 STL - 5/15 FG
Nikola Vucevic: 6 PTS - 15 REB - 3/10 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Greivis Vasquez: 22 PTS - 10 REB - 6/11 FG - 7/8 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 20 PTS - 17 REB (Season-High) - 9/15 FG
Ben McLemore: 19 PTS - 6/18 FG - 7/9 FT
Isaiah Thomas: 13 PTS - 6 AST - 5/12 FG

Decimated Pelicans fall in Kings' rebound
Entering the season with probably the deepest 3-guard rotation in the NBA, injuries left the Pelicans unable to field even one of the three in Monday's game in Sacramento. A game much anticipated by Kings fans as the return of former ROY Tyreke Evans failed to meet the expectations as Evans missed the contest with a Broken Hand. Eric Gordon is still missing extensive time with a Broken Back and offseason acquisition Jrue Holiday was resting a bruised heel. Brian Roberts and Austin Rivers started together in the Pelicans' ravaged backcourt. Rivers did his share of scoring, but could not handle the Kings' point guard duo.

Although it hasn't translated into as many wins as one would hope, Greivis Vasquez has been playing with more confidence as of late for Sacramento. Against his former team, Vasquez mustered his second straight 10+ assist game. But when Vasquez was done dropping dimes, Isaiah Thomas would enter and score buckets himself. In only 17 minutes, the Kings' 6th man scored a team-high 24 points to go with 5 assists of his own. The backcourt performances, along with a strong double-double from Demarcus Cousins, led the Kings to a much-needed home win.
Kings: 108
Pelicans: 99

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Isaiah Thomas: 24 PTS - 5 AST - 9/15 FG - 17 MIN
Demarcus Cousins: 23 PTS - 14 REB (Season-High) - 9/13 FG
Greivis Vasquez: 16 PTS - 5 REB - 11 AST - 5/13 FG - 6/7 FT
Quincy Acy: 9 PTS - 7 REB - 2/5 FG - 5/7 FT - 19 MIN


New Orleans Pelicans Top Performers
Austin Rivers: 27 PTS (Career-High) - 11/20 FG - 43 MIN (Career-High)
Al-Farouq Aminu: 12 PTS - 10 REB - 6/11 FG
Ryan Anderson: 9 PTS - 4 REB - 4 AST - 4/11 FG
Anthony Davis: 8 PTS - 10 REB - 4/8 FG

Kings' rally falls short in Heat's 10th straight
Kings F Quincy Acy catches an inbounds lob for the dunk

After winning the first of the 2-game East-West series between the Kings and Heat, the defending champs headed to California to go for the sweep of the struggling Kings. All things considered, most expected the same outcome that took place in South Beach: a Heat victory.

A hot start to the game from the Kings engaged the home crowd and pushed them to a lead. Kings rookie Ben McLemore and his 40 minutes of production helped them close the quarter on an 8-2 run. Sacramento's perfect vision from the foul line (20-20) and unselfish offense kept the Kings' in the game despite Lebron's aggressive scoring in the 2nd and 3rd. 77 points from the Big 3 was enough to counter the Kings' hustle and give Miami the lead heading into the 4th.

Sacramento was down by 10 at the start of the 4th, and it seemed history would repeat itself and the Kings would be unable to maintain consistency down the stretch. Yet the home team refused to go away quietly tonight. The Kings rallied to pressure the Heat lead behind perimeter shooting and strong play from Demarcus Cousins. Cousins had 8 of his 26 points in the final quarter. Even after Travis Outlaw fouled out at the 4 minute mark of the quarter while defending a Lebron layup, Sacramento kept the momentum going. Outlaw's replacement, Austin Daye, contributed with a made three off a DMC kickout. Two consecutive 3PT makes from Patrick Patterson kept Sacramento alive in the final minute of regulation. The Kings roared back to narrow the Heat lead to only two, but time ran short. Still behind with less than 3 seconds left, Sacramento had to foul and Wade's two free throws let the Heat escape the scare with their streak intact.

"I'm proud of the way our guys fought down the stretch tonight. Patrick (Patterson) made some big threes and as a team we got some stops at the end to get us back in the game. It's hard when we fight so hard to come back and still don't win, but we need to keep our confidence up about how we played, regardless of the outcome." - Kings Coach Michael Malone

NBA Notes:
Heat win 10th straight, now 25-4 overall.
76ers lose 8th straight, now 8-20 overall.
Bucks lose 7th straight, now 7-22 overall.
Lakers lose 6th straight, now 8-22 overall.
Pelicans lose 5th straight, now 11-16 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:
Nets C Brook Lopez out 4-6 weeks with Broken Finger.

NBA Transactions:

Pacers keep Granger with 4 year deal

Even after a deep postseason run behind the leadership of budding superstar Paul George, the Pacers have decided to
resign Danny Granger for the future. Granger missed the postseason for the Pacers with injury and most thought that
Indiana would look to trade him or use him as a $14M expiring contract. Instead they commit to their former All-Star
for 4 years with a very favorable $21.29M deal. Keeping a 30-year-old Granger for less than $6M a year is an excellent
value, as Granger's new decreased contract kicks in just as George's new increased contract does.

Bobcats give away Taylor to Cavaliers
The Bobcats' recent trade has raised some eyebrows around the league as they give up one of their young talents for very little.

Charlotte Bobcats trade: Jeff Taylor, James Southerland
Cleveland Cavaliers trade: Henry Sims, Carrick Felix

Taylor averaged over 19 minutes per game in his rookie season last year with Charlotte, and formed a competent athletic and
defensive duo on the wing with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The Swedish native is expected to be a valuable addition to the playoff-
hopeful Cavaliers with his defense and timely perimeter shooting.

Sims recently made the jump from the D-League to the NBA, but is still not likely to play a huge role with the Bobcats who already
have Al Jefferson, Bismack Biyombo, and rookie Cody Zeller in the frontcourt. Felix was an early 2nd round selection of the Cavs
in this year's draft and is already a quality shooter, but will need to explode on the scene for Charlotte to validate trading Taylor.

[Vespasian92]

For the latest Kings
news, blogs, interviews,
and highlights.

Rugged Opportunities
Reserve forward earning floor time with consistent production


Versatile skills have been key in Acy's increased burn

When the new Kings management sent Jimmer Fredette to the Raptors for Austin Daye and Quincy Acy, many thought that it was a smart move in getting two potential contributors for a player stuck outside the Sacramento rotation. While there was hope for the newcomers, nobody really expected either to take minutes away from the incumbents. Acy had the likes of Thompson, Patterson, Chuck Hayes, and the inactive Carl Landry ahead of him at the 4, while Daye was sitting behind Luc Mbah a Moute, Travis Outlaw, and John Salmons. With Acy sitting as the 4th string at PF (or 4th at SF as well), and Daye 4th at SF, DNPs became rampant for the former Raptors. So when Mbah a Moute went down with injury, it seemed to be Daye's chance to make an impact.

Except that wasn't exactly how it turned out. It was Travis Outlaw who stepped up in the Cameroon Prince's absence at 3 and not Daye. Outlaw brought athleticism and effort to the starting lineup from either forward position, qualities that were now lacking from the reserves. Kings coach Mike Malone began experimenting with new combinations and rotations after Mbah a Moute's injury. In the first game without Luc, Quincy Acy played a season-best 19 minutes against the Lakers, with 3 points and 3 rebounds. He followed that with a complete statline against the Jazz with 4 points, 7 boards, 5 assists, and 2 blocks in 18 minutes. His floor time then decreased to less than 9 MPG for the next 4 games, but he had shown Malone enough.

Behind strong efforts in practice and the energy Acy had displayed in the Utah game, Malone inserted Acy into the second half of the blowout win in Charlotte. The former Baylor Bear assembled another productive all-around game in 23 minutes and hasn't looked back. Acy has played at least 19 minutes in 9 of the last 12 games, and has produced when he gets extended minutes. In those 9 games, he has posted averages of 9.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 1.0 BPG in 21.7 MPG. Those games also include three multi-block games, a double-double against Atlanta, and two made 3PT baskets against the Heat.

Acy might never master a specific skillset, but a jack-of-all-trades energy forward brings exactly the versatility and effort any coach wants off the bench. Malone now has a good problem on his hands, with too many productive players in his frontcourt. With Carl Landry's return from a Torn Hip Flexor coming slowly but surely, trade rumors are likely to abound about the Kings' frontcourt. Patrick Patterson is an expiring contract this offseason, Jason Thompson is a hard-working veteran who may be attractive to a playoff team, Chuck Hayes is a low-post defender and passer with a team-first mindset, and now Acy has gone from a prospect with unknown skills to a legitimate reserve in the NBA. No matter who will end up inside or outside of Malone's eventual frontcourt rotation, one thing is certain. The Kings now find themselves with multiple options next to Boogie Cousins.

[john26]

great piece. im a fan of Acy irl and its good to see him succeed in your association.

[Its_asdf]

I agree, Acy has surprised me a few times this season, even though to preserve my sanity I've limited the amount of Raptors games I've watched this season. He is a huge tweener but as an energy guy off the bench he can be really effective in spurts.

[KrazyTomKrazy]

I agree, Acy has surprised me a few times this season, even though to preserve my sanity I've limited the amount of Raptors games I've watched this season. He is a huge tweener but as an energy guy off the bench he can be really effective in spurts.

Agree on the limited amount of Raptors games. I had NBA league pass last season to watch Ed Davis and then they traded him. Definitely a fan of this association and like the others like to watch what Acy is doing.

[Martti.]

You called it - Acy in Sacramento, though Gay was included in the deal.

You gonna get him? In 2K, he's alright, basically LeBron with a better 3-pointer. And hopefully he can shoot better then 39%.

[Vespasian92]

You called it - Acy in Sacramento, though Gay was included in the deal.

You gonna get him? In 2K, he's alright, basically LeBron with a better 3-pointer. And hopefully he can shoot better then 39%.

Ha, I sure did with Acy and talking about Petey possibly shredding the roster. I am so excited that we got Acy IRL. We moved the pieces (Salmons and Hayes) in the Gay deal that I wanted to shop, and so it makes this deal kinda tempting for me. I am even lukewarm about if Vasquez was going to hang around, with both him and Isaiah needing extensions this offseason. If I do make the Gay deal, I'd alter a few pieces anyway (cause Acy's already here, and wouldn't be realistic to take Jimmer right back).

I'm behind on the trades now, but that should be partially-rectified soon when MaM is healthy enough to help Minny

[Vespasian92]

Spurs beat Kings without Duncan
Spurs: 114
Kings: 105

Rockets make eleven 3s in home win
Winning 6 of their last 7 games, the Rockets have gained momentum recently behind their dynamic duo and the contributions of Chandler Parsons. But Parsons has proved his worth as a reliable compliment to Harden and Howard. On new year's eve against the Kings, Parsons stepped up to keep the Rockets' confidence going. Taking advantage of Travis Outlaw's difficult night (2-9 FG, 5 FLS), he scored 25 points and made four shots from downtown. The Rockets made 11 threes as a team as they claimed the home win.
Rockets: 114
Kings: 98

Houston Rockets Top Performers
Chandler Parsons: 25 PTS - 4 REB - 4 AST - 10/21 FG - 4/8 3PT FG
James Harden: 20 PTS - 6 REB - 9 AST - 8/16 FG - 3/3 FT
Donatas Montiejunas: 11 PTS - 6 REB - 5/18 FG - 1/6 3PT FG
Dwight Howard: 10 PTS - 11 REB - 4/7 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 27 PTS - 15 REB - 4 AST - 3 BLK - 12/21 FG
Isaiah Thomas: 20 PTS - 5 AST - 5/14 FG - 9/10 FT
Quincy Acy: 12 PTS - 2 BLK - 5/7 FG
Ben McLemore: 11 PTS - 5 REB - 3/6 FG - 4/4 FT

December Summary
Atlantic hanging tough while Lakers fall from grace

In a division expected to be very top-heavy with the Nets and Knicks, the Atlantic teams have actually opened some eyes with their play thus far. Four of the 5 teams in the Atlantic Division now find themselves at or above .500, including the 'tanking' Celtics. But in terms of tanking, some teams in the East aren't hiding it so well. The Sixers, Bucks, and Magic are all shy of 10 wins so far and are unsurprisingly primed for quality lottery position. Perhaps more surprising though are the struggles of teams like the Pelicans and Cavaliers. Behind young developing stars like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, their expectations for improvement have been dashed in the early going. New Orleans added Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans this offseason with playoff aspirations, but have struggled to reach .500. The Cavaliers have plenty of young talent headlined by Kyrie Irving, as well as adding a rehabbing Andrew Bynum. Yet they haven't played up to their talent either. Their record is barely above that of another plummeting team: the Lakers.

The mighty Lakers are suddenly second to last in the West, barely ahead of the Jazz. Their poor play even places them lower than their Pacific rival Kings, and that's saying a lot. Injuries have obviously played a role in the decline of the aging Lakers. Kobe has missed 8 games this season with a Broken Finger, while Gasol just recently suffered a Bruised Sternum and will miss 2-4 weeks. With a 39-year-old Steve Nash, a 35-year-old Kobe, and with Xavier Henry being their only contributor under the age of 26, many question if the Lakers need to acquire some legitimate young talent. Kobe and Gasol are both set to be free agents this offseason, as well as other complimentary players like Jordan Hill and Jordan Farmar.

For the latest Kings
news, blogs, interviews,
and highlights. Kings Month in Review

Demarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson have been two of the few bright spots this season

Resolutions for roster changes
Kings fans and players have had little to be excited about as of late. Losers of 6 of their last 7, they have looked unenergized and unable to build chemistry with each other. New Kings coach Mike Malone is obvious unsatisfied with the overall results so far, but cannot be blamed as the only guilty party of his team's struggles. He has developed a good relationship with franchise bigman Demarcus Cousins who has produced with quality numbers this season. Rookie Ben McLemore has also stepped up and shown consistent development since being inserted into the starting lineup. Along with new owner Vivek Ranadive and GM Pete D'Allesandro, Malone inherited a situation with pieces that weren't necessarily compatible. Changing the culture often requires changes in the roster itself, a task which requires Ranadive, D'Allesandro, and Malone to be on the same page.

Rumors about the Kings have refused to die down, with GM D'Allesandro promising to be aggressive in reshaping the roster. Kings fans and coach Malone have now had over 2 months to evaluate his team, and one would assume they now have a good understanding of their players. Some are obvious keepers for Sacramento such as Cousins and McLemore, and others such as Isaiah Thomas and even Quincy Acy have made strong cases that they belong as well. But it is hard to see them standing pat with their 10-20 roster considering the magnitiude of rumors that connect Sacramento to teams like the Timberwolves, Knicks, and Blazers. The former Denver Assistant GM is also reportedly engaging in further talks with his former boss Masai Ujiri, even after trading Jimmer Fredette to the Raptors earlier in the season. This transition year for the Kings has had more bumps along the way than people might have hoped, but ultimately the Kings FO and coaching staff are doing the job of determining their future assets.

NBA Notes:
Celtics lose 10th straight, now 16-15 overall.
Bucks lose 9th straight, now 7-24 overall.
Bulls win 7th straight, now 21-9 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:
Lakers F Pau Gasol to miss 2-4 weeks with Bruised Sternum.
Bulls G Derrick Rose out 1-2 weeks with Sprained Wrist.

NBA Transactions:
Bucks extend G Luke Ridnour with 4yr/$7.28M deal.

[Vespasian92]

Rookies showdown in Sac-town
When two struggling teams met in Sacramento, both were hoping to gain a much-needed victory in a winnable game. But the hometown Kings rode their franchise bigman to an early lead. Demarcus Cousins scored 11 of his 21 in the opening frame, and got to the foul line 7 times. Having watched Spencer Hawes get dominated by Cousins in the early going, the Sixers looked to rookie Nerlens Noel's agility to slow down the Kings' center. Noel logged 25 minutes with this task and ended up with a career-night when everything was settled. With their primary option at least partially nullified by Noel, the Kings' offense turned elsewhere. That second option was rookie Ben McLemore. McLemore was in attack mode all night, drawing contact on his way to the rim. The former Jayhawk mustered a career-best 26 points, including a dagger 3pt basket with 40 seconds left to seal the win.


Kings rookie Ben McLemore established himself at the foul line consistently all game

Kings: 111
Sixers: 102

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Ben McLemore: 26 PTS (Career-High) - 5 REB - 7/17 FG - 10/11 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 21 PTS - 12 REB - 3 BLK - 7/13 FG - 7/7 FT
Marcus Thornton: 14 PTS - 5/9 FG - 17 MIN
Isaiah Thomas: 13 PTS - 7 AST - 5/11 FG - 22 MIN


Philadelphia 76ers Top Performers
Nerlens Noel: 24 PTS (Career-High) - 13 REB (Career-High) - 11/17 FG
Michael Carter-Williams: 22 PTS - 11 AST - 7/15 FG - 8/11 FT
Jason Richardson: 13 PTS - 5/9 FG
Evan Turner: 10 PTS - 7 REB - 4 AST - 3 STL - 3/14 FG

Gritty OT effort not enough for Kings in Mbah a Moute's return
The main headline of Mbah a Moute's first game action in over a month was quickly forgotten

Playing in the second of a 5-game homestand to open the new year, the Kings were confident in yesterday's contest against the Bobcats. They had gained a relatively easy win in the first game of their two-game series in Charlotte, and were also coming off a win against the Sixers. The Bobcats weren't going to go away without a fight though, as they were coming off two straight road wins in L.A. and in Portland.

The home team got a huge boost early in the game when Luc Mbah a Moute walked to the scorer's table in the first quarter. Entering to the sound of a deafening reception from the Sacramento faithful, Luc played for the first time since fracturing his Left Fibula on December 3rd. He accumulated 9 minutes of floor time and scored 2 points and 3 rebounds. The Kings took a two point lead after the first quarter behind the home crowd and a pair of McLemore highlight reel dunks.

But as soon as the second quarter began, it was all Charlotte. The Sacramento defense looked miserable as Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson went to the paint at will. Only a Ben McLemore triple at the halftime buzzer kept the deficit within reach at 5. The Kings needed that boost and rode it coming out of halftime. Sacramento claimed the initiative in the 3rd behind the quickly rising fan favorite Quincy Acy. Acy's energy mustered a career night in scoring and rebounding, and his effort rubbed off on his team who forced a close game heading into the 4th.

The last 12 minutes went back and forth right down to the wire, until a difficult Al Jefferson fadeaway gave Charlotte the lead. Demarcus Cousins came right back at the Bobcats' center and scored a jumphook to tie the game with less than 4 seconds left. The Bobcats inbounded to Kemba Walker who was pressured by Isaiah Thomas and fumbled the pass. Regulation expired before either player could recover the ball and sent the contest to overtime.

One would expect the home team to have an overtime advantage over a team playing their third road game in four nights. But much to the lament of the Sacramento fans, that was not the case. Too much Big Al and one too many missed 3s from Ben McLemore doomed the Kings in the extra 5 minutes. Charlotte had a 6 point lead with a minute and a half left in OT. Jefferson fouled out via a loose ball foul with a minute left, but the job was already done. The Kings' 3pt attempts in the final minute failed to connect and Sacramento lost the hard-fought overtime contest.

Mbah a Moute's return to game action was on the early side of the initial 6-8 week timetable, but Kings coach Mike Malone mentioned his rehab is still not fully complete.

"Luc has been working extremely hard to get back to the floor. It was hard for him to watch the games and be unable to compete with his team. After he was cleared medically, he wanted to play in the Philadelphia game but I thought we'd wait a couple more days. He told me the ankle is still sore and we'll bring him back gradually. Travis is still going to start, and Luc will probably be limited to 10-12 minutes per game for now. It's still going to be another 1-2 weeks before he is 100%."
- Kings Coach Michael Malone

phpBB [video]

Portland frontcourt dominates in Sacramento
If you told that a Lamarcus Aldridge-less (Sprained Finger) Blazers that their makeshift frontcourt duo would outplay the Demarcus Cousins and the Kings, they would likely be thrilled with their chances to get the road win. Former Kings #5 overall draft pick Thomas Robinson filled in next to Robin Lopez for Portland and played well against his former team. The Kansas product paired with Lopez for two 20-12 performances as the Blazers cruise on the road. Portland won the third quarter by 17 and finished with a 23-point margin.
Trailblazers: 118
Kings: 95

Portland Trailblazers Top Performers
Thomas Robinson: 22 PTS - 12 REB - 9/12 FG
Robin Lopez: 20 PTS - 13 REB - 8/13 FG
Wesley Matthews: 20 PTS - 8/19 FG
Damian Lillard: 13 PTS - 6 REB - 7 AST - 4/11 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Isaiah Thomas: 31 PTS - 3 AST - 10/21 FG - 4/6 3PT FG - 7/9 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 21 PTS - 10 REB - 7/11 FG - 7/8 FT
Ben McLemore: 10 PTS - 2 REB - 2 AST - 3/6 FG - 2/2 3PT FG
Patrick Patterson: 9 PTS - 5 REB - 3/10 FG

Kings lose Outlaw against Magic
Losing 5 of their last 6, the Kings looked to settle in at home and take advantage of another struggling team in the Magic. Sacramento started well and took the lead after the first quarter. But the momentum shifted early in the second quarter. Travis Outlaw drove the lane against Glen Davis and came away from the contact grasping his left shoulder. Outlaw left the game before shooting his free throws, and did not return to the game. The Kings seemed to have no energy after that point, and were outscored by the Magic by 15 in the second quarter. Demarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas struggled with their shooting in the game and were unable to rally the home Kings in the second half. The Magic had 6 players score in double-figures as they came away with the 10-point win.
Magic: 102
Kings: 92

Orlando Magic Top Performers
Glen Davis: 19 PTS - 6 REB - 8/13 FG
Victor Oladipo: 18 PTS - 2 REB - 2 AST - 2 STL - 6/10 FG
Jameer Nelson: 17 PTS - 5 AST - 6/12 FG
Aaron Afflalo: 14 PTS - 3 REB - 5/11 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 22 PTS - 18 REB - 6/15 FG - 10/13 FT
Isaiah Thomas: 18 PTS - 3 REB - 3 AST - 6/17 FG - 6/8 FT
Patrick Patterson: 11 PTS - 7 REB - 4/10 FG
Marcus Thornton: 7 PTS - 3/9 FG - 17 MIN

For the latest Kings
news, blogs, interviews,
and highlights.

Travis Outlaw to miss 1-2 weeks


Following an evaluation of Travis Outlaw's injury suffered Friday against the Magic, he is expected to miss 10 days with a Separated Shoulder. Outlaw had stepped into the
starting lineup in the past month for the Kings in the injury absence of Luc Mbah a Moute and is averaging 5.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 18.2 minutes per contest. Mbah a
Moute returned to the Kings' lineup last week against the Bobcats as his rehab moves closer to completion, and will likely be needed once again to fill floor time at the small
forward position.

The Kings have activated Austin Daye on their 12-man roster.

NBA Notes:
Bulls win 12th straight, now 26-9 overall.
Knicks lose 6th straight, now 19-17 overall.
Suns lose 7th straight, now 15-21 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:
Warriors F David Lee out 6-8 weeks with Broken Jaw.

NBA Transactions:

[Vespasian92]

For the latest Kings
news, blogs, interviews,
and highlights.

Kings get Derrick Williams from Timberwolves
The Kings can no longer deny that they still need more talent to put with Demarcus Cousins, and have taken a flyer on the third-year forward from the Timberwolves.

Sacramento Kings trade: Luc Mbah a Moute (72)


Minnesota Timberwolves trade: Derrick Williams (72)


Derrick Williams has started to hear the dreaded bust label after being selected second overall in 2011. The expectations for Williams were lofty due to his draft position, and hasn't lived up to them despite posting improved stats last season. Williams' stats and percentages increased from his rookie year but still struggled this season to find favor under Minnesota coach Rick Adelman. His situation was also undeniably difficult due to the presence of Kevin Love. Williams got little floor time at the 4 due to Love's dominance, and was shuffled between the 4 and the 3 positions in Minnesota. The Arizona product is still only 22 and the Kings hope he can regain his confidence with increased freedom on the court.

Mbah a Moute was acquired by Sacramento in the offseason from the Bucks, and started the majority of the games at small forward for the Kings. He is an excellent defender who knows his role, but obviously lacks the athleticism that Williams possesses. Mbah a Moute is the perfect glue guy on a playoff team, which the Timberwolves are hoping to be this season. This trade is likely a win-win for both teams, with Minnesota getting bench help and another defensive stalwart on the wing after Corey Brewer. The Kings receive a young prospect with impressive physical tools who might flourish in an environment that gives him freedom to show what he can do.

Reports suggest the teams were interested in such a deal for some time now, but the Timberwolves wanted to ensure Mbah a Moute's rehab was progressing and that he was ready for game action before completing the trade.

Kings withstand Kyrie's heroics in Williams' debut
In their first game after making a trade with the Timberwolves, the Kings wasted no time in putting their new acquisition to the test. Derrick Williams got the start for Sacramento at the 3, with Mbah a Moute traded and Travis Outlaw missing time with a shoulder injury. He played a very effective 24 minutes offensively, with 17 points on only 7 shots.

Tonight's home contest against the Cavaliers marked the last game in Sacramento before the Kings begin a 6-game roadtrip. The Kings put on an impressive defensive effort for most of the game, ironic due to the recent departure of their best defender in Mbah a Moute. Sacramento's defense was smothering in the second and third quarters and limited Cleveland to just 30 points in that span. That defensive effort gave the Kings a 16 point lead heading into the 4th, but they were unprepared for Kyrie Irving's scoring explosion. Irving scored 16 as part of the Cavaliers' 32 points in the 4th. An Irving triple narrowed the Kings' lead to just two with a minute left, but an Isaiah Thomas layup on the Kings' next possession helped hold off Cleveland's rally. Another Irving layup and two Thomas free throws kept the final margin at 4 as the Kings held on to win.


New King Derrick Williams displayed his offensive skills in his debut

Kings: 96
Cavaliers: 92

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 21 PTS - 13 REB - 4 STL - 4 BLK - 9/21 FG - 3/4 FT
Derrick Williams: 17 PTS - 6/7 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 4/5 FT - 24 MIN (Kings Debut)
Isaiah Thomas: 13 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 4/11 FG - 5/7 FT
Greivis Vasquez: 8 PTS - 10 AST - 1/10 FG - 6/6 FT


Cleveland Cavaliers Top Performers
Kyrie Irving: 34 PTS - 7 REB - 4 AST - 13/27 FG - 4/12 3PT FG
Anderson Varejao: 14 PTS - 11 REB - 6/6 FG
Tristan Thompson: 11 PTS - 15 REB - 5/8 FG
Dion Waiters: 10 PTS - 5 TO - 4/19 FG

Kings kick off roadtrip with loss in Indiana
Sacramento headed out to a roadtrip in the midwest on Tuesday and made their first stop in Indiana to face the Pacers. Riding in the top echelon in the East, the Pacers had little trouble at home with the struggling Kings in the contest. 7 players for Indiana scored in double-figures, led by a healthy Danny Granger. Granger had his struggles from the field, but got himself to the line at a strong rate. He earned two trips to the line down the stretch of the game to secure the home win. Indiana's team approach carried the Pacers despite the struggles from Granger and Paul George (12 PTS - 4/10 FG). A Ben McLemore triple at the end of the game narrowed the final margin to a deceptive 4 points. In addition to Demarcus Cousins' dominant game, another strong statline from new King Derrick Williams were the positives for Sacramento in the loss.
Pacers: 114
Kings: 100

Indiana Pacers Top Performers
Danny Granger: 22 PTS - 2 REB - 5/15 FG - 11/12 FT
David West: 18 PTS - 7 REB - 5/9 FG - 8/8 FT
Roy Hibbert: 14 PTS - 10 REB - 4/13 FG - 6/8 FT
George Hill: 14 PTS - 4 REB - 3 AST - 4/8 FG - 4/4 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 20 PTS - 16 REB - 4 AST - 2 STL - 3 BLK - 8/18 FG
Greivis Vasquez: 18 PTS - 6 AST - 7/11 FG
Isaiah Thomas: 17 PTS - 5 AST - 5/8 FG - 4/6 FT
Derrick Williams: 13 PTS - 11 REB - 3 BLK - 5/9 FG - 2/3 FT - 26 MIN

Williams shines in Kings' win over Wolves
Derrick Williams didn't have to wait long for his first meeting with his former team. His third game with Sacramento after the trade brought him back to the Target Center in a new uniform. As often happens with traded players, he wasted no time in trying to make an impact.

And that he did. On the first possession of the game, Williams accepted a pass from Greivis Vasquez and went over Corey Brewer for the dunk. The result was a posterworthy slam that got his new team going emphatically. Sacramento was carried by that momentum, and by Demarcus Cousins, to a 48 minute win. Williams finished with 16 points and 7 boards, and once again showed great confidence in his shooting touch. Cousins posted a 30-10 performance, and combined with Williams for 50 of Sacramento's 111 points. Even though they never blew the game open, the Kings never trailed in the contest and came away with the road win.

The Timberwolves played without Nikola Pekovic who is finishing rehab on a Broken Finger. Rookie Gorgui Dieng started for Minnesota and had the best game of his young career with 22 points and 10 rebounds. However, he did foul out in 26 minutes of floor time guarding Cousins. Former King Luc Mbah a Moute had 6 points and 5 rebounds in the matchup.


Derrick Williams might have made the dunk of the year against his former squad

Kings: 111
Timberwolves: 104

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 34 PTS - 10 REB - 11/18 FG - 12/12 FT
Derrick Williams: 16 PTS - 7 REB - 6/8 FG - 2/2 3PT FG
Isaiah Thomas: 12 PTS - 4 AST - 3 STL - 2/4 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
Greivis Vasquez: 9 PTS - 8 AST - 3/7 FG


Minnesota Timberwolves Top Performers
Gorgui Dieng: 22 PTS (Career-High) - 10 REB (Career-High) - 10/16 FG - 6 FLS - 26 MIN
Kevin Martin: 20 PTS - 3 REB - 3 AST - 8/21 FG
Ricky Rubio: 12 PTS - 7 AST - 4/8 FG - 3/4 FT
Kevin Love: 5 PTS - 12 REB - 2/4 FG

phpBB [video]

NBA Notes:
Heat G Ray Allen announces retirement after this season.

NBA Injury Updates:
Heat F Shane Battier out 2-4 weeks with Sprained Knee.
Rockets G James Harden out 4-6 weeks with Broken Finger.

NBA Transactions:

[Vespasian92]

Memphis D smothers Kings
Entering the third game of a 6-game trip, the Kings flew to Memphis after a win in Minnesota. The Grizzlies, notorious for their strong defense, held true to their reputation. The Kings barely registered a 40% shooting mark for the game, while they did little to prevent the Grizzlies from shooting 58% in the contest. Such a large disparity in shooting percentage usually results in a large margin of victory, and this game was no different. Conley scored 21 as the Grizzlies cruised to the blowout win.
Grizzlies: 114
Kings: 100

Memphis Grizzlies Top Performers
Mike Conley: 21 PTS - 7 REB - 10 AST - 9/13 FG
Zach Randolph: 19 PTS - 12 REB - 8/13
Marc Gasol: 14 PTS - 9 REB -6/11 FG
Tony Allen: 14 PTS - 4 REB - 4 STL - 4/6 FG - 5/5 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Derrick Williams: 16 PTS - 6/10 FG - 2/3 3PT FG
Demarcus Cousins: 13 PTS - 9 REB - 4/16 FG - 5/7 FT
Ben McLemore: 13 PTS - 4 REB - 3 AST - 5/9 FG - 3/4 3PT FG
Marcus Thornton: 8 PTS - 2 REB - 2/6 FG - 5 TO

Thunder own second half to top Sacramento
Despite his reputation as a defensive coach, Mike Malone has struggled to get his Kings' defense to a more respectable level. When superstar scorers like Durant and Westbrook face a poor defense, the outcome will likely be a scoring explosion. Yet the Kings held firm defensively when they visited OKC on their roadtrip. Sacramento's first half defense held the dynamic duo to just 14 points, and a narrow lead at halftime. The Kings were optimistic coming out of the lockeroom, but Russell Westbrook made some halftime adjustments as well. Westbrook turned to a scoring mode and began carving up the Sacramento defense. Dropping 24 of his 32 points in the second half, he led the Thunder in outscoring the Kings by 16 after the break. His efforts were enough to carry OKC to the win despite a sub-par performance from Kevin Durant. Unsurprisingly, Demarcus Cousins had an outstanding game inside for the Kings in the loss.
Thunder: 115
Kings: 102

Oklahoma City Top Performers
Russell Westbrook: 32 PTS - 10 REB - 7 AST - 14/26 FG
Serge Ibaka: 18 PTS - 6 REB - 8/14 FG
Nick Collison: 10 PTS - 7 REB - 3/6 FG - 4/6 FT
Kevin Durant: 10 PTS - 9 REB - 4/13 FG - 1/4 3PT FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 27 PTS - 10 REB - 5 AST - 10/14 FG
Isaiah Thomas: 24 PTS - 7 AST - 8/17 FG - 3/7 3PT FG
Derrick Williams: 13 PTS - 3 REB - 5/9 FG
Jason Thompson: 10 PTS - 2 REB - 3/4 FG - 4/4 FT - 13 MIN

Thomas, Williams push Kings to OT win
As their roadtrip winds down, the Kings were in New Orleans to play the Pelicans on Tuesday. This marked the first time they faced their former rookie of the year winner Tyreke Evans. Evans did not play in the first meeting of these teams in Sacramento due to a Broken Hand. Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday also missed the contest in Sacramento, and the Kings beat the shorthanded Pelicans.

But their second meeting in the Big Easy would likely be much more competitive, with the Pelicans fielding all three of their star guards. The game started close and stayed close. The teams exchanged the lead 26 times and the stars for both teams played significant minutes in the hope of gaining a lead. Isaiah Thomas stepped up as one of those stars for the Kings off the bench. Thomas dominated the first quarter for the Kings, mustering 14 points and 4 assists in 10 first-quarter minutes. His strong performance gave him the majority of the point guard minutes for the Kings over the former New Orleans floor general Greivis Vasquez. Thomas finished with 30 points and 12 assists for the game, while the Pelicans backcourt of Holiday and Gordon answered with a combined 50 points of their own.

Down the stretch, the Kings led by 2 and had the ball with a minute left. The Pelicans sagged off of a struggling Ben McLemore (3/11 FG), who was unable to cash in on an open three-point attempt. Back the other way, Eric Gordon drove the lane against traffic and came away with a difficult double-clutch layup to tie the game. The Kings fed Demarcus Cousins in the post with the clock under 8. The Kentucky product faced up on Anthony Davis, then faked and drove. Good help defense from Ryan Anderson helped prevent Cousins' attempt, and the loose ball was collected by Eric Gordon as regulation expired.

The overtime period went much the same way as regulation. Neither side gained any large advantage and the score remained tight. Baskets by Isaiah Thomas were answered by free throw on aggressive Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday drives. A kick-out triple by Derrick Williams was matched by a stepback 3 from Jrue Holiday. Leading by two, Isaiah Thomas and Demarcus Cousins looked to trap Jrue Holiday off of a screen and forced a jump ball. Thomas and Holiday stepped into the free throw circle by the Pelicans' basket as the clock displayed 22 seconds. Holiday won the tip and send the ball towards Ryan Anderson. The Northern California native found himself open just inside the arc, and let if fly. All eyes watched the shot drop cleanly through the net to tie the score at 117.

After a Kings timeout, Isaiah Thomas moved the ball up the floor and played for the last shot. Thomas had enjoyed success driving the lane on a consistent basis all night, so Sacramento spaced the floor and let him work. Making his move with less than 5 seconds left, he looked to see where the help would come from. Al-Farouq Aminu went with Derrick Williams as the Kings forward looked to cut to the basket. But the Arizona product stopped and stepped back from 18 feet to receive the Thomas pass. His fadeaway rattled off the back rim and in with .3 seconds remaining. Eric Gordon failed to get his half-court shot up in time as the Kings left New Orleans with the overtime victory.


Neither Tyreke Evans or his Kings' successor had effective shooting nights in the Big Easy

Kings: 119
Pelicans: 117

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Isaiah Thomas: 30 PTS - 12 AST (Career-High) - 10/15 FG - 9/10 FT - 40 MIN
Derrick Williams: 22 PTS - 5 REB - 8/13 FG - 3/5 3PT FG
Demarcus Cousins: 21 PTS - 18 REB - 8/14 FG - 5/9 FT - 41 MIN
Ben McLemore: 11 PTS - 3 REB - 4 AST - 3 STL - 3/11 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 41 MIN


New Orleans Pelicans Top Performers
Eric Gordon: 26 PTS - 4 REB - 4 AST - 9/16 FG - 5/5 FT
Jrue Holiday: 24 PTS - 2 REB - 2 AST - 8/23 FG - 6/6 FT
Anthony Davis: 18 PTS - 8 REB - 8/13 FG
Tyreke Evans: 12 PTS - 8 REB - 4 AST - 4/11 FG - 44 MIN

phpBB [video]

NBA Notes:
Bobcats lose 7th straight, now 17-26 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:
Bucks F Caron Butler out 2-4 weeks with Broken Back.
Celtics G Rajon Rondo out 2-4 weeks with Sprained Shoulder.

NBA Transactions:

Blazers add extra bigman from Bucks

Portland Trailblazers trade: Dorell Wright
Milwaukee Bucks trade: Miroslav Raduljica

Despite trading the better player in the deal, the Trailblazers gain depth up front in order to help keep Lamarcus Aldridge healthy. They now have Raduljica to add with Robin Lopez and Joel Freeland to play alongside of Aldridge at the center position. The Blazers have enjoyed high production from Nicolas Batum at the 3 spot, and have also used some 3-guard lineups with Wesley Matthews at the small forward along with Lillard and Nate Robinson. They feel Wright was expendable, who has struggled as of late.

Wright was unhappy with Portland, despite averaging over 14 minutes per contest. His percentages reflected his struggles from the field this season, shooting only 38% and 30% from downtown. The Bucks needed some wing help in the wake of Caron Butler's back injury which will sideline him for 2-4 weeks, and hope Wright can regain his shooting touch in Milwaukee.

[Vespasian92]

Power performances unable to carry Kings in H-town
With new coach Mike Malone's emphasis on defense, the Kings' tempo has slowed and Demarcus Cousins has spend more time in the post and dominating the paint. Normally alone for Sacramento in this task, Cousins' numbers have been consistently impressive, and tonight's contest against D12 in Houston was no different. Boogie Cousins outplayed Dwight Howard to the tune of a 30-17 performance. But he also got some help in the paint from Jason Thompson. Versatile as a starter or reserve, as a 4 or a 5, as a rebounder or a post-up player, Thompson seems to have found comfort in his new role providing size after Cousins sits. The former Rider star had a season-best night in only 16 minutes, in which time he scored 22 points and secured 6 rebounds. Thompson also shot a perfect 9/9 from the field and, along with Cousins, provided 48 minutes of paint presence for the Kings.

With impressive performances from the Kings' bigs and James Harden sitting the game out with a Broken Finger, the Kings should have been optimistic about their chances. Former King Francisco Garcia struggled mightily in Harden's absence, going 2/14 from the field. The Kings hung around on the road thanks to these factors, but were unable to pull away and paid for it in the end. Howard and Parsons stepped up for the Rockets down the stretch to help Houston outscore Sacramento by 10 in the 4th. Parsons' difficult 3-point basket from the left corner extended the Rockets' lead to 4 in the final minute and was enough for Houston in the end. The Rockets pulled out the home win by 5, and will start a home and home with Memphis on Friday.
Rockets: 109
Kings: 104

Houston Rockets Top Performers
Aaron Brooks: 23 PTS - 6 AST - 8/18 FG - 6/8 FT
Dwight Howard: 21 PTS - 17 REB - 10/14 FG
Chandler Parsons: 21 PTS - 2 REB - 7 AST - 3 BLK - 8/18 FG - 3/8 3PT FG
Francisco Garcia: 7 PTS - 2 REB - 3 AST - 2/14 FG - 1/7 3PT FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 30 PTS - 17 REB - 10/19 FG - 10/12 FT - 7 OFF REB
Jason Thompson: 22 PTS - 6 REB - 9/9 FG - 4/6 FT - 16 MIN
Quincy Acy: 12 PTS - 2 REB - 2 AST - 6/7 FG - 21 MIN
Derrick Williams: 10 PTS - 3/10 FG - 4/5 FT

Pacers grind one out in Sacramento
Sticking to their game has worked well for the Pacers so far this season, who sit in the top 4 out East, and are among three teams chasing Miami's 4 game lead. Frontcourt duo Roy Hibbert and David West promise to provide a challenge to teams like Miami, as well as everybody in the NBA. Their hard-nosed defensive and physical style translates well on the road, and tonight in Sacramento was no different.

Hibbert and West carried Indiana to a 48-minute win in which they combined for 43 points and 24 rebounds. Sacramento only shot 43% from the field and a disappointing 61% from the foul line, dragged down by Cousins' 9/18 performance at the stripe.
Pacers: 109
Kings: 104

Indiana Pacers Top Performers
Roy Hibbert: 25 PTS - 16 REB - 12/17 FG
David West: 18 PTS - 8 REB - 5 AST - 8/16 FG
Danny Granger: 15 PTS - 4 REB - 4 AST - 6/15 FG
Paul George: 9 PTS - 5 REB - 3/9 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 21 PTS - 8 REB - 6/13 FG - 9/18 FT
Greivis Vasquez: 16 PTS - 6 AST - 7/15 FG
Derrick Williams: 13 PTS - 6 REB - 6/9 FG
Ben McLemore: 6 PTS - 6 REB - 6 AST - 2/7 FG

Kings pull out tough home win
This transition year for the Kings has expectedly had its difficulties in the win-loss column. Sacramento has only won one game of their last 5, even with the losses coming against difficult teams like the Thunder, Grizzlies, Rockets, and Pacers. In their second home game after a 5-game trip, the Kings hoped to bounce back from a double-digit loss to Indiana as they faced the Nuggets. Denver was coming off of a win over the same Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center before travelling to Sacramento.

The Kings lost each of the first three quarters of the game and had no answers defensively for Ty Lawson and Wilson Chandler. Entering the 4th with a 7-point deficit, they seemed doomed to another difficult loss. Yet a Kings defense that has struggled with inconsistency this season stepped up in the final 12 minutes, much to the delight of the Kings fans and coach Mike Malone. Lawson and Chandler shot a combined 3/11 in the 4th quarter. Comparatively, Demarcus Cousins found some support from Marcus Thornton, who combined for 18 of the Kings' 35 points in the last quarter. Sacramento outscored the Nuggets by 13 in the final quarter and secured the comeback victory at home.
Kings: 105
Nuggets: 99

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 27 PTS - 13 REB - 13/22 FG
Marcus Thornton: 15 PTS - 4 REB - 5/10 FG - 5/6 FT
Isaiah Thomas: 10 PTS - 4 REB - 7 AST - 3/4 FG - 2/2 3PT FG
Ben McLemore: 10 PTS - 4/11 FG - 1/6 3PT FG


Denver Nuggets Top Performers
Wilson Chandler: 21 PTS - 9 REB - 5 AST - 6/13 FG - 7/8 FT
Ty Lawson: 12 PTS - 5 REB - 4 AST - 5/12 FG
Andre Miller: 12 PTS - 5 AST - 3/7 FG - 5/6 FT
Randy Foye: 12 PTS - 3 REB - 3 AST - 5/12 FG

NBA Notes:
76ers lose 6th straight, now 12-32 overall.
Trailblazers win 6th straight, now 26-19 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:
Magic C Nikola Vucevic out 1-2 weeks with Strained Hip Flexor.
Bobcats F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out 4-6 weeks with Broken Arm.

NBA Transactions:

[mp3]

Derrick Williams is playing well since the trade, no Rudy Gay trade tho?

Enjoyed catching up on this one

[Martti.]

Yeah, nice to see Williams still playing good, although his real life counterpart has really dropped off since the hot start in Sacramento. Getting Gay really hurt him and now, Thompson is playing more.

[Vespasian92]

Favors' monster night spoils Landry's debut
Carl Landry was just one of many Kings who struggled to defend Jazz F Derrick Favors tonight.
After losing the first two games in the season series, one of them in embarrassing fashion at home, the Jazz hoped to rectify those struggles in tonight's contest with Sacramento. The Kings were coming off a feel-good win against the Nuggets in Sacramento and have continued to ride the strong play of All-Star hopeful Demarcus Cousins. Exciting rookie Ben McLemore has played well since being inserted into the starting lineup early in the season, and was looking for another strong performance akin to those he posted in the two earlier meetings with the Jazz. But most anticipated for the Kings was the season debut of offseason signee Carl Landry. Landry had missed all of the first 43 games of the season with a Torn Hip Flexor prior to tonight's game in Utah.

The Kings started well in the first few minutes, keying in defensively on Gordon Hayward and rookie Trey Burke. They combined for a frustrating 1/7 from the floor in the first quarter. Usually key in the Utah offense, their struggles promised potential for another home blowout. But the young post presence for the Jazz stepped in to shoulder the load. Once his team's struggles became evident, Derrick Favors was aggressive looking for the ball on the block. Patrick Patterson was dominated by Favors in the first half, and earned coach Malone's hesitance for the rest of the game. The usual starter, Patterson only played 2 minutes in the Kings lineup after halftime. Favors found himself with 21 points and 12 rebounds at halftime after tearing apart Patterson in the post.

Kings coach Mike Malone's halftime adjustments on Favors helped, but sometimes players have nights where they seem unstoppable. Patrick Patterson, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, and Quincy Acy all fell victim to Derrick's career night. He showed impressive instincts in making decisive post moves away from the double teams, and looked to continue scoring instead of kicking it back out. Favors and Enes Kanter were the only Jazz to score in double figures, and the lack of other contributions are what kept the Kings in the contest.

Landry's 11 points and Thompson's 10 rebounds were the majority of any bench production for the Kings, thanks in large part to Isaiah Thomas' struggles. But Sacramento did total 30 assists in the game and rode Cousins and another strong performance from McLemore to a tight 4th quarter. Down by just a point in the final minute, a difficult and-1 layup from Cousins gave them the lead with a free throw coming. Cousins had a difficult night from the charity stripe before that, shooting just 1/4 from the line. Even with his confidence dwindling, the kind roll of the back rim was enough to give Cousins the free throw and the Kings a 2 point advantage. But back the other way, everyone could guess who the Jazz were going to look for. On the block, Favors faked the baseline and then put up a fadeaway over the challenge of Jason Thompson. The shot dropped straight through the basket to force overtime in Utah.

In the overtime period, it was more of the same. Favors scored 8 of Utah's 10 points in the extra period, making it look easy despite double and triple teams coming. The Kings struggled to get anything going offensively as well, capped off by an emphatic Enes Kanter block on Demarcus Cousins. Cousins committed a frustration foul on Kanter at the other end, who made both free throws to seal the game. A Greivis Vasquez triple in the last 10 seconds of OT narrowed the final margin to three, but it was clearly too little for Sacramento and their disappointing defensive effort in the paint.

In his season debut, Landry played 20 minutes and posted 11 points and 4 rebounds.

For the latest Kings
news, blogs, interviews,
and highlights.

Blockbuster deal sends Rudy Gay to Sacramento
Often considered by many as overpaid and inefficient, Rudy Gay has been traded for the second time in a year. New Raptors GM Masai Ujiri struck another deal with his former Nuggets
assistant Pete D'Allesandro and the Kings in order to relieve his Toronto squad of the $37M burden of Gay's contract.

Toronto Raptors trade: Rudy Gay (79) - Aaron Gray (69) - Julyan Stone (66)


Sacramento Kings trade: Greivis Vasquez (75) - Patrick Patterson (72) - John Salmons (70) - Chuck Hayes (70)


Kings GM Pete D'Allesandro has vowed that he needs to be aggressive in rebuilding the roster he was given. He has proven that already with the high-reward potential trade for Derrick
Williams, but acquiring Gay is a risky deal to make. Gay is often criticized for taking ill-advised shots offensively, and as the first option for the Raptors his shooting percentages
have threatened to dip below 40% from the field. Such an inefficient, high-volume scorer like Gay may also take offensive touches away from Kings' centerpiece Demarcus Cousins.
Cousins has posted impressive numbers on a consistent basis thanks to spending more time in the low post this season instead of on the perimeter as he did last year.

On the other hand, this deal does help clarify the Kings' rotation, with young players Derrick Williams and Quincy Acy set to receive floor time left by the departures of Salmons and
Patterson. The return of Carl Landry from injury also contributed to the logjam at the power positions that will be relieved with the trade.

As for Gay himself, his most effective years were in Memphis when playing alongside interior forces like Gasol and Randolph. The Kings front office hopes that Gay will post more efficient
shooting numbers as a 2nd option to Demarcus Cousins, in contrast to Gay's offensive demands in Toronto. Even if he accepts his $19M player option (most assume he would be hard-
pressed to walk away from that kind of money), Gay's contract will expire the same time as Derrick Williams' $6.7M and Marcus Thornton's $8.7M deals. The Kings will have a large amount
of cap flexibility after the 2014-15 season. Many believe the Kings may look to add a quality free agent at that time to a developed core including Cousins and rookie Ben McLemore. The
Kings' new arena is scheduled for completion in 2016, and fans hope they will be a postseason caliber team by that time.

Gay's arrival creates a baby Big-3 in Sacramento with Cousins, Gay, and underestimated guard Isaiah Thomas. Thomas will resume the starting role at the point for the Kings, a position he
has held multiple times in the previous two seasons. The fan-favorite has outlasted challengers such as Jimmer Fredete, Beno Udrih, Tyreke Evans, Aaron Brooks, and now Greivis Vasquez
to keep his spot on the Kings roster. Gay and reserve bigman Aaron Gray will join former Raptors Quincy Acy and Austin Daye on the Kings' roster, after an earlier trade involving Jimmer
Fredette brought them to Sacramento. The third Raptor involved in the deal, Julyan Stone, is expected to compete with Kings rookie Ray McCallum for the 4th guard spot on the roster.

The Raptors currently sit 7th in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but seem to have decided that a championship team cannot be built with Rudy Gay as the centerpiece. In the place
of Gay's $17.8M contract and $19.3M player option for 2014-15, the Raptors get almost $13M in expiring contracts in Vasquez, Patterson, and Salmons. Hayes is due $11.7M over the next
two seasons, and his $6M in 2015 compare very favorably to Gay's $19M. Ujiri has now unloaded the large contracts of Gay and Andrea Bargnani during his first year in Toronto. The
Raptors now have financial flexiblity and a young core featuring Demar Derozan, Jonas Valanciunas, and Terrence Ross to develop. Trading their best player in a salary dump does little
to help their team in the short term, and the Raptors seem desirous to add more young talent through the draft or through unbalanced trades using their cap space.

The Raptors have also waived struggling guard D.J. Augustin to make roster space for the transaction. Vasquez and incumbent Kyle Lowry are expected to handle the vast majority of
point guard duties for Toronto.

NBA Notes:
Bulls win 5th straight, now 34-11 overall.
Timberwolves lose 5th straight, now 20-26 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:

Clipped wings ground Hawks' playoff hopes
Disappointing news from Atlanta as the Hawks have announced point guard Jeff Teague has suffered a Torn MCL and
will miss the remainder of the season. The injury was suffered in the second half of the Hawks' 104-102 loss to the
Thunder in Oklahoma City. This news damages the Hawks' already slim playoff hopes this season. Atlanta currently
sits at 17-28, a full 5.5 games out of the 8th seed. Teague's injury comes on the immediate heels of Kyle Korver's back
injury. Korver is due to be sidelined from action for 6-8 weeks.

The disappointing season for Atlanta might be brightened by the development of rookie Dennis Schroder and the
impending arrival of Lucas Noguiera next season, as well as the probability of getting their highest draft pick since
selecting Al Horford 3rd overall in 2007.

NBA Transactions:
Raptors waive G D.J. Augustin.

[mp3]

Good to see Landry hit the court again and good job on the Raptors trade in also getting Stone, great prospect!

[Vespasian92]

Kings' rally falls short in Gay's debut
In their first game since making the significant trade to acquire Rudy Gay, the 1-game homestand for the Kings set the stage for Gay's team debut. They welcomed the team for which Gay played his first 6 1/2 seasons: the Memphis Grizzlies.

The new starting lineup for Sacramento featured Gay in addition to Isaiah Thomas and Jason Thompson (4 PTS, 9 REB, 28 MIN), who step in through the departures of Vasquez and Patterson to Toronto. But the excitement of the new roster was all that the Sacramento could cheer about for most of the game. The grindhouse Grizzlies put on a defensive performance for the first three quarters, taking a 13-point advantage into the 4th. Gay seemed to struggle finding his rhythm offensively within the flow, and scored all 4 of his field goals in isolation or fast break situations. The struggles of acclimating their new star, as well as Memphis' strong defense, combined for the large differential.

But if there is any part of the Kings' roster that possesses a dauntless mentality, it is their new starter at the point: Isaiah Thomas. Thomas dominated the final quarter for Sacramento with a combination of scoring and passing. He totaled 13 points and 5 assists to lead the Kings' rally. Against the Memphis bench, Sacramento's 12-2 run in the first 3 minutes of the quarter closed the margin and summoned the Grizzlies starters into the contest. The margin was narrowed to 3 but the Kings could get no closer. Conley and Gasol returned and stepped up offensively for the Grizzles in the last quarter. They combined for 52 points in the game, while Randolph added 16 of his own to help the Grizzlies hold on for the win.

Gay scored 12 points and had 5 rebounds in his debut, but only shot 4/11 from the field. Aaron Gray also made his debut, contributing 3 field goals in only 7 minutes for the Kings.


Rudy Gay had his share of offensive struggles in his Kings debut

Grizzlies: 105
Kings: 101

Memphis Grizzlies Top Performers
Mike Conley: 29 PTS - 6 REB - 7 AST- 10/24 FG - 8/8 FT
Marc Gasol: 23 PTS - 12 REB - 11/17 FG
Zach Randolph: 16 PTS - 7 REB - 7/15 FG
Tony Allen: 13 PTS - 3 REB - 2 AST - 5/11 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 23 PTS - 8 REB - 8/14 FG - 7/9 FT
Isaiah Thomas: 20 PTS - 10 AST - 8/18 FG - 4/5 FT - 41 MIN
Rudy Gay: 12 PTS - 5 REB - 4/11 FG - 4/4 FT
Ben McLemore: 12 PTS - 4 REB - 3 AST - 5/9 FG - 2/3 3PT FG

Kings cling to road win behind Acy's defense
After a somewhat disappointing debut against the Grizzlies in Sacramento, Rudy Gay was hoping for a better performance as the Kings went to Dallas. The Mavericks were coming off wins against Detroit and Houston, and also welcomed Jose Calderon and Vince Carter back from injury. That being said, they were optimistic in their chances of gaining the home win.

The contest went back and forth, with neither team showing consistently throughout the contest. Demarcus Cousins kept receiving the ball in the Kings' offense early en route to 10 first quarter points. Despite leading by 8 after the first the Kings struggled in the second quarter, as did Rudy Gay. Gay was only 3/9 from the floor prior to halftime. Gay found his rhythm in the third quarter however, and helped Sacramento rally to regain the lead. But just as Gay turned it around in the second half for the Kings, so did Samuel Dalembert for the Mavericks. Dalembert had struggled with his shooting and with fouls earlier in the game, but he mustered 12 points and 7 rebounds in the 4th quarter to keep Dallas in the contest.

The score was close down the stretch, with the defenses keying in on the offensive stars like Nowitzki and Gay. Marion was tasked with defending Gay, while Quincy Acy got the call for the Kings on Dirk. It was thanks to the Baylor product's enegry and defense that the Kings had a chance in the end. In the final minute, good ball movement found Isaiah Thomas for a jumper that pushed the Sacramento lead to three. Back the other way, a missed Calderon 3pt attempt as time expired dashed the Mavs' final hopes of overcoming the 105-102 deficit. In the tightly contested affair, Sacramento won the 1st and 3rd quarters by 14, and Dallas outscored the Kings by 11 in the 2nd and 4th.


Kings F Quincy Acy challenged every shot in his vicinity tonight

Kings: 105
Mavericks: 102

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 20 PTS - 6 REB - 8/15 FG - 1/4 3PT FG
Isaiah Thomas: 20 PTS - 6 REB - 7 AST - 8/19 FG - 5 TO
Demarcus Cousins: 14 PTS - 14 REB - 4/6 FG - 6/7 FT
Quincy Acy: 12 PTS - 6 REB - 2 AST - 6 BLK (Career-High) - 5/8 FG

Dallas Mavericks Top Performers
Samuel Dalembert: 20 PTS - 15 REB - 9/21 FG - 2/4 FT
Monta Ellis 20 PTS - 3 REB - 3 AST - 8/20 FG
Dirk Nowitzki: 12 PTS - 7 REB - 4 AST - 4/13 FG
Jose Calderon: 9 PTS - 7 AST - 4/12 FG

January Summary
Thunder, Heat rise to the top


Approaching the all-star break, the playoff picture in the NBA has begun to clarify. There are very few surprising squads sitting in the top of the conferences. The Thunder, Grizzlies, and Spurs are the top three out west, expected considering they have all reached the conference finals within the last 3 seasons. Increased scoring from Serge Ibaka and Jeremy Lamb have contributed to the Thunder's success, despite the fact that Ibaka's BPG are below 1.5 and Lamb's shooting percentage is below 40%. Good health have also assisted OKC's wins, as Durant and Westbrook have only missed 3 games between them.

In the East, the obvious leader is the Miami Heat. The Big 3 have dominated their Eastern Conference counterparts, as the Heat are 3.5 games ahead of the 2nd place Bulls and 7.5 ahead of the 3rd place Pacers. Aside from Chicago and Indiana, no teams in the East are a challenge to the Heat, with the 4th place Nets a full 10 games back. Lebron, Wade, and Bosh are all scoring less per game, but have received plenty of scoring help from Mario Chalmers and Shane Battier this season. Health will be a key in the Eastern playoff race as well, keeping the Big 3 ready for postseason in Miami or if the Bulls can contend if D-Rose gets hurt again.

For the latest Kings
news, blogs, interviews,
and highlights. Kings Month in Review


Kingdom of misfit pieces
No one knows what puzzle the Kings are assembling. Some would question if the Kings management themelves even know. This enigma has grown much more difficult with the addition of Rudy Gay. They have gone all-in with Demarcus Cousins from the very beginning of this new era, but now have added a high-volume player like Gay to the mix. Only two games into the Gay-Cousins experiment, the results have been mixed. It is still too early to judge if Gay's efficiency will increase with the Kings. Practice time is needed to acclimate Gay and the other new faces into the gameplan, and Kings fans and brass would like to see their new roster cohesively perform before deciding what else the team needs. Sacramento has plenty of athletes and offensive firepower now, but their defense is as inconsistent as ever. That being said, one need that is already obvious to all is for a defensive presence, preferably at the 4 next to Cousins. For all his offensive skill, Cousins will likely never be more than an average defender, and is not the kind of player who can anchor a defense. But a 4-man who protects the rim and who can space the floor from midrange is a rare package. Certainly the Ibakas of the NBA don't come in every draft or free agent class, so it is unclear how long the Kings must wait to find their answer next to Demarcus Cousins. But one thing is clear: this transition year for the Kings hasn't disappointed in providing plenty of it.

The Kings waived reserve C Hamady N'Diaye prior to Friday's game in Dallas. The acquisition of Aaron Gray from Toronto likely contributed to the release of the unused bigman. N'Diaye did not appear for the Kings in any of the 45 games he was with the team.

NBA Notes:
Raptors win their 6th straight, now 27-20 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:
Nets G Deron Williams out 4-6 weeks with Broken Hand.
Lakers G Steve Nash out 2-4 weeks with Strained Achillies.

NBA Transactions:
Kings waive C Hamady N'Diaye.

[mp3]

Acy with a huge defensive game in Dallas good to see Rudy settling in.

[rsType28x]

Great stuff. Hopefully the team of misfits can gel together. Atleast we aren't at the bottom of the division lol.

[Vespasian92]

Spurs cruise past Kings at home
Little needs to be said about Saturday's contest in San Antonio aside from the visitor's shooting percentage. The Spurs held Sacramento to an atrocious 30% from the field as they easily rolled over the Kings. Only two players for the Kings scored in double-figures, and their starting 5 combined for 16/60 shooting. Leonard and Parker combined for 48 points to provide the Spurs' offense.
Spurs: 105
Kings: 75

San Antonio Spurs Top Performers
Kawhi Leonard: 24 PTS - 15 REB - 8/14 FG
Tony Parker: 24 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 8/18 FG - 6/10 FT
Tiago Splitter: 15 PTS - 6 REB - 4/9 FG - 7/8 FT
Manu Ginobli: 15 PTS - 6 REB - 8 AST - 2/11 FG - 9/10 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Isaiah Thomas: 15 PTS - 6 REB - 6 AST - 5/17 FG - 4/9 FT
Ben McLemore: 11 PTS - 5 REB - 3/17 FG - 0/9 3PT FG
Demarcus Cousins: 9 PTS - 6 REB - 4/12 FG
Rudy Gay: 8 PTS - 7 REB - 2/7 FG

McLemore, Gay's scoring not enough in Sacramento
Returning home after an embarrassment in San Antonio, the Kings welcomed the East's 2nd place Bulls. Judging by their performances tonight, nobody was more disappointed about their last game than wing duo Rudy Gay and Ben McLemore. Gay posted his best performance as a King since being traded from Toronto, scoring 27 points on 17 attempts, including 3 makes from downtown. McLemore is usually tasked to simply fit in and space the floor for the Kings, alongside of three volume scorers in Gay, Cousins, and Thomas. But the former Kansas Jayhawk stepped out of that passive role in a big way tonight. The rookie dropped a career-best 30 points and got himself to the free throw line 8 times. Getting 57 points without even factoring in Cousins or Thomas, the Kings would have to be hopeful about their chances.

But as has usually been the downfall for the Kings this season, their defense couldn't perform to a winning level. Derrick Rose had no difficulties scoring against the Kings tonight. Even when Rose wasn't scoring, Joakim Noah was controlling the game with his usual energy en route to a 19-17 performance. Sacramento allowed the Bulls to post 111 points in their own building and were unable to overcome the deficit in the end. Despite the success of Gay and McLemore, the Bulls defense did effective work against Thomas and Cousins. Thomas only shot 3/14, and they also kept the ball out of Cousins' hands, who only attempted 6 shots.

In their only visit to Sacramento, Chicago played without Luol Deng who is resting a strained groin.
Bulls: 111
Kings: 104

Chicago Bulls Top Performers
Derrick Rose: 38 PTS - 7 AST - 13/22 FG - 12/12 FT
Joakim Noah: 18 PTS - 17 REB - 9/13 FG
Carlos Boozer: 16 PTS - 9 REB - 8/16 FG
Taj Gibson: 10 PTS - 9 REB - 4/7 FG - 22 MIN

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Ben McLemore: 30 PTS (Career-High) - 3 AST - 10/22 FG - 8/8 FT
Rudy Gay: 27 PTS - 10/17 FG - 3/4 3PT FG
Isaiah Thomas: 13 PTS - 4 REB - 12 AST - 3/14 FG - 5/7 FT - 40 MIN
Demarcus Cousins: 11 PTS - 8 REB - 4/6 FG - 3/4 FT

Former teammates face off in Sactown
The first meeting between the Kings and Raptors since the Rudy Gay trade took place Wednesday in Sacramento. Multiple players have been moved between these two teams, with a total of 8 players facing their former teams. Former Kings Chuck Hayes, Jimmer Fredette, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson, and Greivis Vasquez all appeared for Toronto, while Gay, Aaron Gray, and Quincy Acy played for the Kings. Jokes and comradery between former teammates were all over the floor pregame, but they were all business after the tip. Unsurprisingly, the most effective of the 8 was the biggest name: Rudy Gay. In the relatively small sample size since the trade, Gay's notorious shooting struggles have improved with the Kings. Tonight, his effective all-around game was an excellent compliment to Demarcus Cousins to help the Kings put on a rout at home. Quincy Acy also played well in his first meeting with the team that drafted him, including an emphatic dunk on former King Greivis Vasquez. The Kings outscored Toronto by 15 through the first three quarters and coasted to a relatively easy home win.

Vasquez was the most effective of the new Raptors, who had 7 points and 2 rebounds, assists, and steals off the bench.

Matchups between players who played with or were traded for each other added to the intensity of the contest

Kings: 109
Raptors: 98

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 22 PTS - 4 REB - 4 AST - 9/15 FG
Demarcus Cousins: 17 PTS - 14 REB - 2 STL - 3 BLK - 6/10 FG - 1/1 3PT FG
Ben McLemore: 15 PTS - 5 AST - 5/9 FG
Isaiah Thomas: 15 PTS - 14 AST - 4/17 FG - 1/7 3PT FG - 6/8 FT


Toronto Raptors Top Performers
Demar Derozan: 24 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 7/15 FG - 10/12 FT
Jonas Valanciunas: 17 PTS - 12 REB - 7/16
Kyle Lowry: 13 PTS - 5 REB - 5 AST - 6/15 FG
Amir Johnson: 9 PTS - 7 REB - 4/8 FG

phpBB [video]

NBA Notes:
Lakers lose 6th straight, now 16-33 overall.
Blazers lose 6th straight, now 26-24 overall.
Pacers win 6th straight, now 33-16 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:
Lakers G Nick Young out 2-4 weeks with Torn Meniscus.

NBA Transactions:

[Vespasian92]

Cousins facilitates road win in Boston
The Kings have embarked on a 4-game roadtrip in the East prior to the upcoming All-Star break, and found their first stop in Boston to play the Celtics. After trading away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in the offseason, the Celtics were expected to be in tank mode, with young players and extra draft picks in tow. But they have been playing .500 ball as they welcomed the Kings to Beantown. Impressive seasons from Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger are to credit for the surprising season in Boston. Playing without Rajon Rondo due to his shoulder injury, the Celtics turned to rookie Phil Pressey in the starting 5 against Sacramento.

But the Kings' defense focused on Green and Sullinger, and Boston struggled to get others involved without Rondo. The Cs shot just under 40% from the floor and only had one player score more than 13 in the game. Conversely, new additions to the Kings' offensive gameplan paid off with 35 free throw attempts and 49% field goal shooting. These changes included giving Demarcus Cousins the ball more often in a variety of situations and add more movement and cutters. A willing and skilled passer when necessary, Cousins posted a season-best 7 assists and got to the line 11 times. Rudy Gay and Derrick Williams were the recipients of many of Cousins' passes, as they combined for 30 points in the Kings' win.
Kings: 103
Celtics: 89

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Isaiah Thomas: 22 PTS - 7 AST - 7/14 FG - 6/6 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 16 PTS - 15 REB - 7 AST - 4/10 FG - 8/11 FT
Derrick Williams: 16 PTS - 3 AST - 5/9 FG - 4/4 FT
Rudy Gay: 14 PTS - 3 REB - 2 AST - 6/10 FG

Boston Celtics Top Performers
Brandon Bass: 16 PTS - 10 REB - 6/18 FG
Jeff Green: 13 PTS - 4 REB - 5/13 FG
Courtney Lee: 13 PTS - 3 AST - 4/8 FG - 3/4 3PT FG
Phil Pressey: 6 PTS - 7 AST - 3 STL - 3/15 FG

Cousins outshines former teammate, but Wall claims the win
The playoff-hopeful Wizards settled into Verizon Center for the last of a 5-game homestand, star lead guard John Wall faced off against his friend and former college teammate Demarcus Cousins. Both players are having career years this season for their respective teams who are looking to make strides after years of lottery basketball.

Only two members of the Kings' new Big 3 showed up, as a heavy MPG load for Isaiah Thomas seems to have hurt his shooting recently. Tonight may have been Thomas' worst shooting game this season, going only 1/12 from the field. With Thomas struggling, no one else was able to step up to assist Cousins and Gay, who were the only Kings to score in double figures. Demarcus' impressive 37-15 performance could not overcome the Wizards' balanced attack as they come out with the narrow win. Wall and Nene combined for 43 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists to carry the Wizards' winning efforts.
Wizards: 111
Kings: 104

Washington Wizards Top Performers
John Wall: 23 PTS - 9 AST - 9/18 FG
Nene Hilario: 20 PTS - 11 REB - 10/14 FG
Kevin Seraphin: 10 PTS - 10 REB - 5/9 FG
Bradley Beal: 8 PTS - 5 REB - 3/8 FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 37 PTS - 15 REB - 12/24 FG - 13/15 FT
Rudy Gay: 19 PTS - 5 REB - 4 AST - 8/12 FG
Jason Thompson: 7 PTS - 10 REB - 3/7 FG
Isaiah Thomas: 6 PTS - 6 AST - 1/12 FG

Big 3 combine for win in Cleveland
With the team improving and building chemistry since acquiring Rudy Gay, the Kings secured a successful road trip tonight in Cleveland. Working through a 4-game trip, the Kings' new Big 3 of Gay, Cousins, and Thomas led the road team to a 105-98 victory. All three scored 20+ for Sacramento, while conversely the Cavs mustered no 20 point scorers in the contest. Kyrie Irving especially struggled as he posted a 4/14 mark from the field. The Kings move to 2-1 on their roadtrip with their final game in New York and are a .500 team since the trade, going 4-4.
Kings: 106
Cavaliers: 98

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Isaiah Thomas: 23 PTS - 9 AST - 8/17 FG - 5/5 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 20 PTS - 7 REB - 7/16 FG - 6/7 FT
Rudy Gay: 20 PTS - 10 REB - 6 AST - 7/12 FG
Ben McLemore: 13 PTS - 7 REB - 4/11 FG

Cleveland Cavaliers Top Performers
Alonzo Gee: 16 PTS - 6 REB - 5/8 FG - 5/6 FT
Dion Waiters: 15 PTS - 6 REB - 5/11 FG - 4/6 FT
Kyrie Irving: 12 PTS - 4 REB - 6 AST - 4/14 FG
Anderson Varejao: 10 PTS - 7 REB - 5/10 FG

Thomas leads Kings to 3-1 roadtrip
Looking to improve on their already positive east coast trip, the Kings spent their last game before All-Star weekend in the Garden to face the Knicks. Conversely to the Kings' positive run lately, the Knicks were coming off a tough loss in Oklahoma City. The two teams were tied after the first quarter thanks to a strong defensive effort from Sacramento. Isaiah Thomas and Demarcus Cousins only scored 10 in the first half, but team defense and Gay's scoring gave the Kings the lead at halftime.

But Sacramento needn't worry about the offense of an aggressive player like Thomas. Isaiah turned it on in the second half and scored 25 of his season-best 31 points after the break. The Sacramento defense remained fairly stout throughout, and with Thomas' improved play, the Kings opened up a 24-point lead in the 4th and coasted to the win. Adding Rudy Gay has improved the Kings significantly and allowed them to win games without dominant performances from Demarcus Cousins, who only scored 6 in the Big Apple. Carmelo's 24 led the Knicks efforts, but needed 26 shots to reach that total.


Kings G Isaiah Thomas has thrived since becoming the starter in Sacramento

Kings: 111
Knicks: 93

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Isaiah Thomas: 31 PTS - 10 AST - 11/23 FG - 7/8 FT
Rudy Gay: 20 PTS - 3 REB - 2 AST - 8/12 FG - 2/3 3PT FG
Quincy Acy: 12 PTS - 5 REB - 6/7 FG - 19 MIN
Demarcus Cousins: 6 PTS - 15 REB - 1/3 FG - 4/6 FT

New York Knicks Top Performers
Carmelo Anthony: 24 PTS - 7 REB - 11/26 FG
J.R Smith: 16 PTS - 2 REB - 8/17 FG
Tyson Chandler: 10 PTS - 13 REB - 4/7 FG
Amare Stoudemire: 10 PTS - 7 REB - 4/7 FG

NBA Notes:
Hawks lose 7th straight, now 17-35 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:
Timberwolves C Nikola Pekovic out for season with Strained Achillies.

NBA Transactions:

[Vespasian92]

All-Star Weekend 2014

Rising Stars Challenge Invitees
The Rising Stars Challenge this year displayed the usual mix of excellent rookies and developed sophomores in the NBA. Damian Lillard and Anthony Davis were the two most exceptional 2nd year players, while guards Trey Burke, Victor Oladipo, and Ben McLemore were notable rookie entrants. As is always the case, the exhibition featured little defense and was rather a display of athleticism and youth. But with the multitude of outstanding young players, it likely won't be long before some of them get invited to the main event on Sunday.

Team Shaq:
Starters:
Damian Lillard (POR) - Ben McLemore (SAC) - Otto Porter (WAS) - Cody Zeller (CHA) - Nerlens Noel (PHI)

Reserves:
Brian Roberts (NOP)
Bradley Beal (WAS)
Maurice Harkless (ORL)
Donatas Montiejunas (HOU)
Jonas Valanciunas (TOR)

Team Chuck:
Starters:
Trey Burke (UTA) - Victor Oladipo (ORL) - Luigi Datome (DET) - Anthony Davis (NOP) - Alex Len (PHX)

Reserves:
Dennis Schroder (POR)
Dion Waiters (CLE)
Harrison Barnes (GS)
Anthony Bennett (CLE)
Andre Drummond (DET)

All-Star Saturday
All-Star Saturday saw very few surprising entrants in the Slam Dunk and 3PT shooting competitions. Perhaps the biggest one was seeing Paul George take part in the dunk contest despite his quickly rising star status. Some would claim that in recent years the star players seem to have avoided entering the high-flying exhibition, but George still took part and put on a show. Joining him were two former dunk champs in Jeremy Evans and Terrence Ross. No surprise that they would return to defend their titles against George and each other.

The fourth entrant was Kings rookie Ben McLemore, whose athleticism was well documented coming from college. Despite a rookie campaign that has had its speed bumps, McLemore has had enough chances to show his athleticism this year to leave fans wanting to see more. McLemore is the first Kings representative in All-Star Saturday since Peja Stojakovic's 3PT shootout crown in 2002-03 and subsequent appearance in 2003-04. The Kings rookie is the franchise's first dunk contest representative since Gerald Wallace in 2001-02. If McLemore wasn't selected to represent the Kings in the dunk contest, many in Sacramento may have felt snubbed with McLemore on their roster along with former participants Rudy Gay and Derrick Williams.

Once again, the usual suspects appear in the 3PT shootout, headlined by star shooters Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. Brandon Jennings, Joe Johnson, O.J. Mayo, and Chandler Parsons rounded out the 6 entrants, but none of them were able to dislodge the favorites of Durant and Curry from the top spots.

Sprite Slam Dunk

Winner: Terrence Ross (TOR)
2nd: Jeremy Evans (UTA)
3rd: Ben McLemore (SAC)
4th: Paul George (IND)

Foot Locker 3PT Shootout

Winner: Stephen Curry (GS)
2nd: Kevin Durant (OKC)
3rd: Joe Johnson (BKN)
4th: Chandler Parsons (HOU)
5th: O.J. Mayo (MIL)
6th: Brandon Jennings (DET)

NBA All-Star Game 2014
A changing of the guard seems to be in motion in the NBA, and the All-Star representatives reflect that shift. 12 first-time All-Stars marked this year's rosters, both by a combination of outstanding young players and a focus on stats over winning. The usual suspects garnered the starting spots in the West, with Duncan leading the way in his 15th appearance. Cousins, Bledsoe, and Favors all made their first All-Star appearances for career years on their lottery-bound squads, yet are expected to help improve the records of their teams in the near future. Stephen Curry finally makes it to the main event at All-Star weekend after a snub last year, and no one would question his path to stardom.

But the Eastern Conference may be a different story. Many of the 1st time All-Stars may have gotten their tickets due to slightly better statistical seasons to players who have given up personal numbers to try and win. Selections like Glen Davis and Nikola Vucevic raise some eyebrows. Their career, but still relatively average, numbers on a 21-win Magic team were enough to garner their invites over the likes of Bulls and Nets' frontcourt players like Noah, Boozer, Garnett, and Lopez. Along with Roy Hibbert and even David West, Noah, Garnett, and Lopez have been snubbed from the festivities due to statistical sacrifices made to further their teams' success. Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh all fell into the large category of winners who were snubbed in favor of possible statistical superiority of leaders on losing teams.

Western Conference

West Starters:
Chris Paul (LAC - 7th Appearance) - Russell Westbrook (OKC - 4th Appearance) - Kevin Durant (OKC - 5th Appearance) - Tim Duncan (SA - 15th Appearance) Dwight Howard (HOU - 8th Appearance)

Reserves:
Stephen Curry (GS - 1st Appearance)
Monta Ellis (DAL - 1st Appearance)
Kawhi Leonard (SA - 1st Appearance)
Pau Gasol (LAL - 5th Appearance)
Demarcus Cousins (SAC - 1st Appearance)
Eric Bledsoe (PHX - 1st Appearance)
Derrick Favors (UTA - 1st Appearance)

Eastern Conference:

East Starters:
Derrick Rose (CHI - 5th Appearance) - Rajon Rondo (BOS - 5th Appearance) - Lebron James (MIA - 10th Appearance) - Carmelo Anthony (NY - 7th Appearance) - Josh Smith (DET - 1st Appearance)

Reserves:
Kyrie Irving (CLE - 2nd Appearance)
Jeff Green (BOS - 1st Appearance)
Paul George (IND - 2nd Appearance)
Glen Davis (ORL - 1st Appearance)
Nikola Vucevic (ORL - 1st Appearance)
John Wall (WAS - 1st Appearance)
Kemba Walker (CHA - 1st Appearance)

[Vespasian92]

Trade Deadline Deals

Asik heading to the Big Easy

Houston Rockets trade: Omer Asik (78 - NOP), Omri Casspi (69 - SAC)
[ Image ][ Image ]

New Orleans Pelicans trade: Darius Miller (69 - HOU), Greg Stiemsma (65 - SAC), 2015 1st Round Draft Selection (HOU), Rights to Pierre Jackson (66 - SAC)
[ Image ][ Image ]

Sacramento Kings trade: Marcus Thornton (74 - HOU), Julyan Stone (66 - NOP)
[ Image ][ Image ]

The Rockets have debated what to do with disgruntled center Omer Asik after the arrival of Dwight Howard in the offseason, and eventually found a willing destination in New Orleans. New Orleans was seeking a legitimate center in order to let Anthony Davis play the 4 full-time, and an Asik-Davis frontcourt gives them an intimidating defensive frontcourt. In his minimized role behind Howard, Asik's talent was wasting on the Houston bench and doing neither the Rockets nor Asik much good. In return for the Turkish center, the Rockets receive 2nd year forward Darius Miller and a future first round pick from the Pelicans. But for their current postseason hopes, the Rockets involved the Kings to provide the immediate value they wanted. Marcus Thornton can provide scoring off the bench for the Rockets when Harden sits, and could even play next to him in the backcourt due to Harden's playmaking ability. Trading Asik's $15M for Thornton's $8.7M price tag in 2014-15 is a money-saver that can't be overlooked as well.

The Pelicans have made no secrets of their desire to hurry their playoff dreams, as evidenced by their trade for Jrue Holiday in the offseason. With their three-headed monster of Holiday, Gordon, and Evans in the backcourt, rising superstar Anthony Davis at the power forward spot, and productive support like Ryan Anderson and Al-Farouq Aminu, New Orleans has the talent to compete in the postseason. A quality partner for Davis was arguably their only, or at least their biggest, need. Asik's interior dominance will give them an improved defensive presence and can combine with Davis to give the Pelicans the ability to play grind-it-out games like the postseason offers. Giving up the promising Jackson and a future 1st round pick makes the trade somewhat risky for them in the long-run. But for a team looking to make bold strides into the playoffs, filling their biggest need with a quality, established player is a sound move. Julyan Stone and the recently acquired Tyshawn Taylor (from BKN in separate trade) provide talented youth in the backcourt anyway, and Jackson's chance of making the Pelicans' roster wasn't growing any larger. The only current asset they gave up was Miller, and he was an 8th or 9th man. Stiemsma would have been redundant anyway, with Asik, Smith, and Withey all on the roster at the 5.

Sacramento was primary involved to help facilitate the trade between Houston and New Orleans. They absorbed Stiemsma's $2.7M contract to give the Pelicans the space to accept Asik. But their primary involvement was to give Houston the impact player in Marcus Thornton. Miller and the 1st rounder are quality assets for the future, but getting an asset that could assist them in a playoff run this season was also important. The Kings were reportedly reluctant to part with Thornton as his departure would put full pressure on rookie Ben McLemore going forward. But exchange for Thornton, the return of Pierre Jackson was too good to pass by. Jackson had been playing extremely well in the D-League, yet was unable to receive any NBA opportunities due to the Pelicans still possessing his rights. The Kings are short on depth in the backcourt since Greivis Vasquez was involved in the Rudy Gay trade. A dynamic diminutive duo in the future of Isaiah Thomas and Pierre Jackson is something Sacramento seems interested in attempting. Former King Omri Casspi was also included in the trade, and will hope to regain traction on his career. His best years were in Sacramento after being drafted 23rd overall in 2009, and was traded away from the Kings before more permanent pieces in Demarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas were fully established. His perimeter shooting from the wing may be valuable to the Kings due to Cousins' inside play. Even though Sacramento already has Gay and Derrick Williams playing the 3, neither can shoot as well as Casspi and/or have other skills with higher priority than shooting.

Shocked Bulls see Deng shipped out

Cleveland Cavaliers trade: Andrew Bynum, 2015 1st Round Draft Selection (via SAC)
Chicago Bulls trade: Luol Deng

Probably the biggest deal at the deadline, the Chicago Bulls have traded Luol Deng to the Cavaliers for the oft-difficult Andrew Bynum and the rights to the Kings' 1st rounder in 2015. Deng and the Bulls had been unable to agree upon a contract extension earlier this season and with Derrick Rose's health coming into question recently, the Bulls have made a move to brighten their future. Deng's departure will obviously hurt Chicago's hopes this season, but trading him after the failed negotiations was a wise decision. Chicago is expected to waive Bynum after the trade is finalized, and save the $13m value of his non-guaranteed deal. The Kings' pick was sent to Cleveland, along with Omri Casspi, in exchange for J.J. Hickson in 2011. Protections have kept Sacramento with their 1st round selections since that time, but the pick will be sent to Chicago in 2015. The Bulls also have the probable arrival of Nikola Mirotic next season to look forward to, and along with the pick, he adds future hope to a relative title contender.

The Cavaliers relieve themselves of the distractions of Andrew Bynum, who has struggled with his recovery from knee surgery in the offseason. Getting little production from Bynum made it easy to move him out of Cleveland. Deng is an immediate upgrade at the small forward, a spot where the Cavs were needing assistance. They hope that Deng will be convinced by a playoff season and the stardom of Kyrie Irving to resign with them this offseason. This is a difficult trade to judge, depending upon if Deng resigns in Cleveland and how poor the Kings will remain next season.

Celtics unload Lee to Grizzlies

Boston Celtics trade: Courtney Lee
Memphis Grizzlies trade: Jerryd Bayless

In rebuilding mode, the Celtics have moved one of their two supposedly burdensome contracts in Courtney Lee to Memphis in exchange for the expiring Jerryd Bayless. In need of perimeter shooting, the Grizzlies will likely get plenty of use and production from Lee. Memphis had no guarantees of resigning Bayless this offseason, as he is the kind of player another team may overpay for. The rebuilding Celtics shed the 3-year salary of Lee, and Bayless gives them flexibility. He provides a reliable backup to Rondo, who has struggled with injury this season. No longer a playoff team, Boston has little pressure to risk overpaying this offseaso if that would be necessary to retain Bayless. Although it was a minor deal, it is likely a win-win for both teams.

Cs keep dealing, get picks from Miami

Boston Celtics trade: Jordan Crawford (GS), Marshon Brooks (GS)
Miami Heat trade: Joel Anthony (BOS), 2014 2nd Round Draft Selection (BOS), 2015 2nd Round Draft Selection (via PHI) (BOS)
Golden State Warriors trade: Toney Douglas (MIA)

Even after trading Courtney Lee, the Celtics were still busy on the trade front. They sent young backcourt prospects Jordan Crawford and Marshon Brooks away in return for draft picks and center Joel Anthony. The picks came from Miami, who also send a 2015 2nd rounder from Philadelphia. This is likely to still be a quality selection at the beginning of the second round, as Philadelphia is beginning a possibly lengthy rebuild. This move also frees up plenty of space for Avery Braldey to be the future at the 2 for Boston.

The Heat sent the draft picks away to unload the $3M contract of the little-used Anthony, who also has a player option for next year. In return they receive Toney Douglas from Golden State, who will add a defensive presence and depth to a point guard rotation including Chalmers and Norris Cole.

The Warriors likely received the best value from the deal, with young guards Crawford and Brooks heading to Golden State. Brooks has seen his opportunities slip with the Nets and Celtics, after a relatively productive rookie year with Brooklyn until Joe Johnson's arrival. Crawford is expected to help fill the hole left by Jarrett Jack as a guard who can score and pass, playing behind Curry or alongside him.

Nets shake up backcourt with minor deals

Brooklyn Nets trade: Tyshawn Taylor (NOP), Tornike Shengelia (CHI)
Chicago Bulls trade: Marquis Teague (BKN)
New Orleans Pelicans trade: 2015 2nd Round Draft Selection (BKN)

The Nets were involved in two minor deals at the deadline, essentially swapping young point guards. Tyshawn Taylor was sent to the Pelicans in exchange for a future 2nd round pick, and also acquired Marquis Teague from the Bulls. Little-used forward Tornike Shengelia headed the other way to Chicago. The Bulls have enough point guards on their roster now, especially if Derrick Rose remains healthy. They have also reportedly expressed interest in signing FA guard D.J. Augustin, who was waived by Toronto earlier this year. Teague's minutes likely will not increase much in Brooklyn as long as Deron Williams and Shaun Livingston remain healthy.

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Kings sign Jones, release Daye, Steimsma
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The Sacramento Kings signed G/F Dequan Jones from their D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns. Jones appeared in 63 games last year with the Orlando Magic, averaging 3.7 PPG and 1.7 RPG in 12.7 MPG. With Marcus Thornton's departure, Jones will likely get a chance to prove himself with the Kings the remainder of this season. He is expected to share the reserve shooting guard minutes with Rudy Gay, who will play the 2 in large lineups for Sacramento.

The Sacramento Kings also announced today that they have requested waivers on F Austin Daye and C Greg Steimsma.

Daye was acquired from the Raptors in the first of two transactions between Toronto and Sacramento this season, in exchange for Jimmer Fredette. Daye appeared in 21 games for the Kings this season, posting averages of 1.9 PPG and 1.3 RPG in 6.5 MPG. He struggled with his shooting, connecting on only 29% from the field and 28% from downtown.

Steimsma was acquired from the Pelicans in Tuesday's trade that send Marcus Thornton to the Rockets and Omer Asik to the Pelicans. His contract was sent to the Kings as salary filler, and the Kings will continue to have Aaron Gray, Jason Thompson, and Quincy Acy backup Demarcus Cousins.

NBA Notes:

NBA Injury Updates:
Rockets F Donatas Montiejunas out 1-2 weeks with Sprained Wrist.

NBA Transactions:
Kings waive F Austin Daye.
Kings waive C Greg Stiemsma.
Bulls waive C Andrew Bynum.
Pelicans waive F Lance Thomas.
Bulls sign G D.J. Augustin to 1yr/$473K deal.
Kings sign G/F Dequan Jones to 1yr/$1.60M deal.